Page 59 of Brandishing Betrayals

“From me.”

I sucked in a breath and released it slowly. “From myself, my emotions at that moment.”

“Why didn’t you just wake me? We could have talked them out.”

“I can’t talk about it Nico. I’ve told you that.”

“So is this about what’s going on that has you too scared to talk to me or Marc or Jase.”

I sighed and looked down at my hands, my fingers were twisting around a piece of the fringe on the throw pillow. God, I wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull his face closer to mine, to kiss him passionately. I couldn’t do that, though. No matter how much I wanted to, I needed to put a distance between us again.

“Do you regret sleeping with me?” Nico asked, jolting me out of my head.

“I could never regret that, Nic,” I admitted before I thought better of it.

“I love you, Maya. I hope you know I’d do anything to protect you.” He reached out and tucked a stray hair behind my ear.

Tears welled in my eyes and I swallowed thickly. “I love you too,” I murmured. “But we can’t be together.”

Nic ground his molars, the vein in his jaw popping, reminding me of Jason or Marcos’s mannerisms. Nic was the happy one, not the angry one—I was clearly upsetting him. I couldn’t blame him though, I knew how utterly ridiculous I was being. It was time to put up the wall between us again, force him to hate me. It was the only way to keep everyone safe.

“You should go.”

“Maya.”

“Don’t Nic,” I shook my head.

Clearly annoyed, he stood up abruptly and backed away. I stood up too, hoping to gain some even footing with him. “I don’t understand,” he said, his voice soft. “You know we can help you; you just need to tell me who it is.”

I shook my head. “I don’t need your help.”

“Don’t need, or don’t want?”

“Both.” I shot back, annoyed. I glared at him. “Just go already, stop pushing for something you’re not going to get.”

“Right,” Nico said, sardonically. “You love me, but not enough to fight for me—for us.”

I shrugged a shoulder and crossed my arms over my chest. “Stop being so fucking dramatic. Not everything revolves around you, Nico. I’m only here for my parents and because Luke asked about Marcos.”

He laughed incredulously. Shaking his head, Nico turned away from me. “Alright, Maya. Tell yourself that if you have too, but I’m not going anywhere.” He walked out the door a moment later, leaving me standing in the middle of the living room feeling anxious. He wouldn’t stop, I knew he wouldn’t, and now I was worried Nico was going to tell Jason and Marcos, and all of three of them would be up my ass looking for the truth—more so than they already were.

I turned away from the door and just sat back down on the couch. I heard Nico’s car drive away when I finally picked up mybook again. Just as I was settling into my book again, the front door opened again. “Nico, I said—”

“Not Gage,” a deep nasally voice said as he walked toward me.

Whipping my head to the door, I let out a quiet shriek of surprise. Jumping up, I tried to back away from the intruder, but he was on me too quickly. “Keep your voice down now,” Dax Hillcrest growled, wrapping his hand around my throat. “Wouldn’t want to alert your parents down the hall now, would we?”

I gulped as he shoved me back against the wall of the living room. “Please,” I begged quietly. “Please, I haven’t said anything to anyone.”

“Trust me, bitch, if I thought you had talked, you’d be dead already.” He squeezed my neck tighter. “But you’re getting awfully chummy with Gage, Langford and Candella. Can’t have you getting any ideas now.”

“I haven’t said anything, I won’t.” I tried to explain, but he only shook his head.

“You don’t get it, whore. I will kill each and every single person you care about, starting with your little bastard chil—”

“Please don’t!” I begged. “Please. I haven’t said anything. I won’t tell them anything. I’ll keep my distance. Please don’t hurt my baby.”

“I don’t thin—”

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